A self reflection on estate agents
Think estate agents sell properties? Think again…
If you ask an estate agent what they do, they will surely tell you that they sell property. But this isn’t really accurate. We don’t sell houses because we don’t own them – you do.
Some agents like to think they ‘work in sales’, but in reality, we work in marketing. An estate agent’s job is to market your property so successfully that people want to buy it. The ability to do this comes from a wealth of experience and using a multitude of different tools.
Not all agents are created equal: Shopping around to find the agents with the lowest commission on sales might seem like a wise move, but that’s is much like finding the cheapest builder to work on your property – you might find someone incredibly skilled and an absolute bargain – but it’s a risky business and you might end up with a poorly finished job.
Estate agents’ costs should reflect their skills, experience, local knowledge, previous successes, time in the industry, contacts and professionalism.
As agents, we are often asked if we worry about online portals such as Zoopla and Rightmove, and the answer is always no. These are just more tools in our box that help us get properties in front of buyers – the process of selling a home is complex and full of pitfalls – no website is able to sell your property for you, just like no agent can.
Online, or on the high street, agents are there to provide a service that enables you to make the sale.
